#taguchi

“ Departure from Kyoto “, de la série Tokaido Meisho No Uchi 東海道名所之内 - Shōgun se prépare pour le voyage de retour de Kyōto.

Utagawa Yoshimori 歌川芳盛 [Taguchi] (1830–1884).

Music: https://youtu.be/II1OPtGzuSA

It was a warm summer day. A short, orange haired boy wearing a green shirt, brown sneakers and jeans was looking out of his room. His bandaged right hand placed against the window, watching the the summer breeze blow through the trees. Cars passed the street, people walked on the sidewalk, and kids played on the grass not far from the room he was in. Brown eyes take notice of all of these features, saving the memory for something important. He breaths out onto the window and turns to his bed. Being in a hospital room for over two year wasn’t the worst thing ever, considering the things that he has been through. This was the best solution for him and for everyone else. Reminding himself of the other nineteen teenagers, with a very shaky hand, he picks up the cellphone on the bed looks at all of the unread messages they sent to him. Trying to open the phone was difficult in itself, and to view the messages proved to be another challenge. But that minor inconvenience didn’t bother him. He scrolls through the various messages that the nineteen students sent to him. Some sent a swift congratulations, some sent at a paragraph on how happy they were, one person sent a very snarky and condescending message, and others didn’t send him a message at all. And that was fine. His hand still shakes and twitches as he moves the phone into the jean pocket. The boy hasn’t fully recovered from the surgery, and he may not fully recover from it. Those two and a half years were tough with the constant surgeries, all the physical therapy, and after all of that his hands can only do the most basic of motor functions. Hopefully, after the rest of his physical therapy, he might be able to draw again. Then he can draw that landscape he will keep inside his memory. But until then it will only be a dream. “Taguchi deary? Are you ready to depart?” A nurse peaks through the doorway with a smile. “Yes... Just one moment please.” His quiet voice responds to her. It’s time to leave already. On the counter lies his backpack, filled with each card, photo, gift that he has received from his friends over the two years in the hospital. Slipping on the backpack he takes one last look to the outside, and a big smile appears on Taguchi’s face. He hasn’t smiled like that since the dream. While the backpack was heavy he managed to maintain balance as he walks out of the room with the nurse. The two walk together, side by side, to the front door of the hospital room. “Are you sure you don’t want everyone to say goodbye?” The nurse asks to the short boy. “Yeah.” Taguchi responds.

The two walk quietly after that short conversation. Taguchi has never been the one for big goodbyes, or conversation.

They reach the entrance, with a stop or two along the way to talk with some of the nurses and doctors who were passing by. They said things like ‘Oh Taguchi we will miss you.’ and ‘I hope you are given a full recovery Taguchi.’. With each person he thanked them and continue to walk with the nurse.

The nurse said one last goodbye before opening the door for Taguchi. What was waiting for him was a black limousine ready to take him back home. He said his goodbyes to the nurse and leaves the hospital, going straight to the limousine. Though he stops for a moment, closes his eyes and breaths in. He felt the hot summer heat instantly, but the wind to immediately cool him off. He heard the cars on the street and some of the people on the sidewalk. “How long are you gonna inner-retrospect like that? Get in the fucking limo.” A faint voice inside his head cries out. Sighing as he hears the voice, Taguchi opens his eyes and begins to walk to the limo again. He mumbles a ‘Shut up you.’ before reaching the limo driver who was waiting outside. The limo driver opens the door, takes helps him take his bag off and helps him to buckle his seat, then closes the door when he is all situated. The driver returns to the front of the limo and gets himself ready. “Where am I taking you? Would you like to go somewhere or head straight home?” “Home, please.” Taguchi responds. The driver nods and starts the limo, beginning to drive off from the hospital. Taguchi watches the hospital go further, and further away. Slipping away from is view until he can no longer see it.

He sighs, relaxing in his seat and closing his eyes. Though the moment of relaxation doesn’t last long because he feels a presence within the limo. Opening his eyes he sees three girls: one with blue hair, one with yellow, and one with pink. Each doing their own thing and minding their business in the limo. He stays quiet, then smiles, and closes his eyes while relaxing his head onto the seat.